#GTFC XI: McKeown, Öhman, Collins (c), Davis, Ring, Hessenthaler, Woolford, Embleton, Hendrie, Thomas, Dennis.

Subs - Hall-Johnson, Clifton, Cardwell, Vernam, Whitmore, Cook, Russell.

Ohman predictably back in the starting XI.

Come on Town. UTM.

Disappointed RHJ is relegated to the bench
He provides us with some much needed pace at the back and something different when we attack down the right.

Thought RHJ was well off the pace going forward in particular last week, altho to be fair so were plenty of others.

Embleton back to previous role it seems. If he fails to cause problems around the Crawley box try Vernam much earlier please.
If they have pace swap Davis for RHJ.

JT asking Jolley about having a view from the stands. Now where did he get that idea........

Worryingly a complete lack of pace at the back as neither Hendrie or ring are particularly quick

Quoted from Croxton

Embleton back to previous role it seems. If he fails to cause problems around the Crawley box try Vernam much earlier please.
If they have pace swap Davis for RHJ.

JT asking Jolley about having a view from the stands. Now where did he get that idea........

Davis? You see Cambridge's second goal last week?

1-0 Town

Wes Thomas  :)

Super Wes

Get in.....0-1 Town   Thomas   :)

Get in!  8) 8)

Two narrow escapes as Crawley hit the bar twice in quick succession after they kick off after our goal

Another 3 or 4 from us and I might be able to relax  ;)

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

Another 3 or 4 from us and I might be able to relax  ;)

3 or 4 I need 7 or 8 😂

Another yellow

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

3 or 4 I need 7 or 8 😂

Pints   ??)

This games got another sending off vibe

Quoted from promotion plaice

Pints   ??)

At least 😄

Ref seems to of picked a side by some of his calls so far.

1-1

Ollie Palmer

It's been coming  :-/

Palmer goal for crawley. Been utter shite since we scored

1-1   :-/

Poor from Ring that they should have never been allowed to cross that ball

Palmer balderdash. Its been coming since we scored. Usual sitting too deep and inviting pressure instead of pressing and forcing mistakes. Giant gap between the midfield and the strikers so no support up top.

Atrocious defending all round for that goal. Can't believe Palmer was allowed to head that in basically unchallenged - Davis didn't look remotely interested in trying to get to the ball ahead of him.

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

Ref seems to of picked a side by some of his calls so far.

Oh FFS we're not blaming the referee already surely

Inevitable that it would be Palmer

Seems like we are just going to be playing the season out... That wont be good for the gates

Quoted from Ipswin

Oh FFS we're not blaming the referee already surely

Inevitable that it would be Palmer

No not blaming the ref, our down fall is from our usual defending from the 6 yard box and allowing their CBs to dribble the ball 30 yards before we apply any pressure. All I was saying was the ref seems to of picked a side and only blowing his whistle for one team.

Quoted from Ipswin

Oh FFS we're not blaming the referee already surely

Inevitable that it would be Palmer

He is a giving fouls to them for f&@k all to be honest

Oh look Thomas gets bundled over Emveleton gets shoved but Hess comes in for a tackle and its a free kick for them again.

2-1. Shite defending

We’re defending like fannies

Palmer again

2-1 Crawley

Turned to cr@p after our goal

Quoted from Bigdog

Davis? You see Cambridge's second goal last week?

Unfortunately yes. Collins instead then. Would have had  RHJ and Whitmore anyway.

Can see us getting hammered here

felicitations sake. No pressure at all even with Davis on top of him. Crawley just able to pass the ball around at will.

More car crash defending from Harry Davis. Not a good player.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

He is a giving fouls to them for f&@k all to be honest

He has given us one free kick though  ;)

Looked at their recent results last night before doing my POM entry and the word nil featured strongly. Then we turn up!!

Looks like we are going on our usual 5 game bad run before we win 5 on the trot....talk about inconsistency.

I heard their fans were fighting amongst themselves last week at the MK game, they were that bad.... and then we turn up ::)

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

I'll say it again.

Get Collins off. He makes our defence drop deep. And how the hell didn't he get to block the cross for the first? Too much defensive responsibility put on the shoulders of the midfield three. Too many pockets of five yards where their forwards come off our defenders without a challenge.

Get Whitmore or RHJ on, squeeze up and cut the distance down between defence and attack. The game gets stretched out and gives us no chance. Woolford off for Clifton for extra bite and energy in the middle and hopefully we can bring our front two in the game.

MJ's biggest failing for me. Been happening for weeks but we've sneaked some wins so the cracks have been papered over. We've been at our best performance wise generally when we don't have Collins or Woolford in the side..

They shouldn't be here next season so why delay development of others?!!!

HT and lots to do in the second half

No excuses from the sounds of things

1-0 up and we're throwing it away

Quoted from Chrisblor

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

Its not the lack of man power in midfield thats the issue. Its that out of oyr midfield 3 we leave 2 back to defend with our back 5 in one long line and allow teams to do as they please as they pass the ball where they want when they want. Watch Crawley they're playing the same system as us and their midfield close down whoever has the ball where ever they are on the pitch. The number of times one of Crawleys 3 CBs has walked the ball 20 or 30 yards this game into our half is embarrissing.  

Quoted from Chrisblor

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

I would agree with this. you only need one main striker, and a better midfield to create his chances

Quoted from Chrisblor

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

This!!!! We can’t get out of our half as the ball is coming straight back. They don’t look a good pairing.  

Why does Collins run away from the ball all the hmmmmm

Quoted from Bigdog

I'll say it again.

Get Collins off. He makes our defence drop deep. Too much put on the shoulders of the midfield three. Too many pockets of five yards where their forwards come off our defenders without a challenge.

Get Whitmore or RHJ on, squeeze up and cut the distance down between defence and attack. The game gets stretched out and gives us no chance. Woolford off for Clifton for extra bite and energy in the middle and hopefully we can bring our front two in the game.

MJ's biggest failing for me. Been happening for weeks but we've sneaked some wins so the cracks have been papered over. We've been at our best performance wise generally when we don't have Collins or Woolford in the side..

They shouldn't be here next season so why delay development of others?!!!

Can't disagree with you BigDog

Collins as mentioned in the week on other threads is surely not going to be in the team next season so why not now give his place to the likes of RHJ who should be building a future with us

MJ will need to do something quick today if we're going to get anything..... if he hangs on until the 70th minute like he did last week before changing things around then I don't see us coming away with anything at all today

Quoted from Chrisblor

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

You're kidding. Had nothing to do with our forwards. Felt sorry for the front two feeding off less than scraps. You've got to look elsewhere to find out what was wrong with that first half performance!!!

At half time I'd sub Woolly for Clifton hes not in the game and we need some bite in midfield. Collins as his inclusions means we defend from the 6 yard box and the number of times he's been tight to a player only to run away from him when he got the ball is shocking get RHJ in for some much needed pace and attacking threat. I'd even go as far as to sub Davis as hes been no better either but to use all three subs at once is just inviting trouble.

Quoted from Chrisblor

The team doesn't function properly with Dennis and Thomas playing together up front. They have absolutely no chemistry and playing them means we have a man less in midfield and keep getting completely overrun. We'd be far better served with Vernam or Embleton playing in an advanced midfield / supporting striker role with Thomas or Dennis up front on their own and an extra man (Clifton) back in midfield.

Can't blame the front 2 the rest after our goal have been absolute shite.

Cook on to help out the midfield Dennis off
Clifton on Embelton off he's been very jaded last 2/3 games

Playing 5 across the middle just encourages Town to play the ball sideways.

Dennis and Thomas not 100% on that partnership but it’s hard to tell when the supply is so poor.

If MJ thinks Ring is an adequate replacement for Fox he needs to give his head a wobble.

We need early changes in the 2nd half to get back into the game

Quoted from headingly_mariner

This!!!! We can’t get out of our half as the ball is coming straight back. They don’t look a good pairing.  

They have hardly had a decent pass since the goal, the midfield and defence are looking as weak as urine.

And Palmer is taking the urine.

Quoted from sonofmadeleymariner

At half time I'd sub Woolly for Clifton hes not in the game and we need some bite in midfield. Collins as his inclusions means we defend from the 6 yard box and the number of times he's been tight to a player only to run away from him when he got the ball is shocking get RHJ in for some much needed pace and attacking threat. I'd even go as far as to sub Davis as hes been no better either but to use all three subs at once is just inviting trouble.

Thing is that Collins doesn't mark so Davis and Ohman are man for man and DC is forever drawn to the edge of our six yard box even if play is fifteen/twenty yards outside our box. What's worse is that their forwards are coming off our back three around the box and being closed down by our midfield three who are facing our own goal. Our back three end up marking nobody having a free ride. Really bad habits that leave our midfield three chasing the shadows of five Crawley men. Danger signs were there when they hit the bar unchallenged twice early on. Happens all the time, we just have streaky games when we get away with it and the odd game against a really poor side when it doesn't really affect the game.

Were simply too deep, big gap between defence/midfield as we have no pace anywhere, no one has even had chance to run at a central defeder yet and apart from Hendrie the only players to have touched the ball in their pen area are the strikers. Wing backs wont work unless they have face to get round the back which ours dont, and if you dont have a target man why does every goal kick just get hoofed up into the air by Mckeown. Ohman (what a great strong powerful player, personally think hes great) is a red card waiting to happen.
And yes the ref is dire, gives freekicks to Crawley if they fall over and nothing to us, Collins is quicker accross the grass than this guy.
Unless we change personnel/tactics. quick we are going to get absolutely hammered.  :o

NO changes for the second half   :-/

Clive Wigginton just said that it's the worst he's ever seen us play in his time watching us as a summariser yet we've not changed anything. I don't get it? ::)

Clive Wiggington saying it's the worst Town performance he has seen since he has been co-commentating.

Palmer should be booked for a disgraceful dive. Weak refereeing.

Palmer should of been booked for that dive. Then again he shouldn't of been able to walk with the ball past 5 guys in our own box.

Can hear the Displeasure in Wiggingtons voice. We sound woeful

Quoted from arryarryarry

And Palmer is taking the urine.

Should have had a third from the sounds of things too

4-4-2 anyone??

As it stands Notts County and Macclesfield are going to be well adrift at the bottom of the table tonight.

Can't remember the last time I heard JT mention our forwards

Once again Town doing a great job........at making an average appointment who by the way haven’t won at home since January look reasonably decent

Then he mentions Dennis...

Just seems all Crawley though and nothing going on with us as an attacking force

Sounds like Cook is coming on with Dennis off

At least he will give us some energy going forward  

Cook coming on who for though Dennis of Thomas? Making a change up top won't make a difference though if we keep play 802 though.

Clifton on for Woolford too

Fingers crossed we'll have some energy in the side now

Cook on for Dennis
Clifton on for Wooly

Embletons been off for weeks, he wont be here next season, he needs a rest.

Still all Crawley

Last gasp defending from Öhman keeps it at 2-1

Macca keeps it at 2 then Öhman does the same.

Wiggy keeps saying we are awfull and getting worse

Quoted from denni266

Wiggy keeps saying we are awfull and getting worse

Hes not wrong. We've not got the ball into their half since we made the subs

Quoted from denni266

Wiggy keeps saying we are awfull and getting worse

He sounds well miffed with how we are playing!

Havent had a flipping shot since we scored. Absolutely flipping crap this

If we win this game we could still have a chance of reaching the play-offs   8)

Time to start dusting off the fishing gear....and I haven't been fishing for over 20 years.

And there's the first attack since our goal?

we haven't been good to watch for most of this season. I'm amazed we have amassed 47 points tbh.
here come the crosses

Palmer is going to get his third soon at this rate

Quoted from promotion plaice

If we win this game we could still have a chance of reaching the play-offs   8)

Time to start dusting off the fishing gear....and I haven't been fishing for over 20 years.

Fishing is very good at the minute  ;)

This is worse than under slap head Slade.

Collins can just intercourse off. Standing there with the ball at his feet with 15 yards of empty space in front of his to walk into and draw a player! >:( >:( >:(

Cmon Town let's steal a point.

Thomas chance but puts it over

At least an attempt by us.... 75 minutes gone mind

2043 attendance

412 Mariners

Deserve better than what they've seen today

Ohman booked. But not sent off

Öhman off again? Or not?? The ref doesn't seem to know what's going on?? Two yellows shown but he's still on the field of play!!

Like Ludvig but its getting silly. Week after week yellow after yellow

I said in the first half to my Dad, he booked Palmer and not Öhman in the first half thats why Palmer was having a go at the ref.

Press Association live text has Ohman being booked for a foul after 21 minutes so no idea how he's still on the pitch.

Wigginton is spot on with the ref from the sounds of things.... he doesn't know what he's doing ;D

Collins off and Vernam on

Come on Town..... let's try and nick a point

In all reality Town look clueless

6 additional minutes?

Bag o' shite yet again!

Who are we trying to kid?

Quoted from Ipswin

Bag o' shite yet again!

Who are we trying to kid?

Whos kidding anyone? But lets not pretend you’ll be loving this. Its what we are mid table, sometimes good sometimes excrement. It happens. I’ll take this after what we had last year

Quoted from Chrisblor

Press Association live text has Ohman being booked for a foul after 21 minutes so no idea how he's still on the pitch.

Sporting life has Ohman booked in 1st half and Embleton not Ohman in second

Chance at the death

Too little too late from Town though

As JT says, first five minutes and the last five have been good but the period in between has been disastrous

Quoted from Hagrid

Whos kidding anyone? But lets not pretend you’ll be loving this. Its what we are mid table, sometimes good sometimes excrement. It happens. I’ll take this after what we had last year

It's about where I expected us to be too. A mid-table side with an average team. Plenty of folk on here were kidding themselves and getting all excited about the play offs though (dreamers)

That's it

2-1 FT

What a disappointment after the great start

Garbage

Tough position for Jolley as we don’t know how likely either thomas or dennis are to be here next season. Do you stay loyal to thomas whos had a pretty good season and keep him sweet and hope he stays on or do you see if dennis can do even better. But So far its not looking like you can do both. He might give it another game or two though and hope it suddenly sparks.

Quoted from Ipswin

It's about where I expected us to be too. A mid-table side with an average team. Plenty of folk on here were kidding themselves and getting all excited about the play offs though (dreamers)

Nothing wrong with dreaming.... especially when we went on that last run of four on the bounce

We could have built on that but for some reason the wheels have come off again

Hey ho.... I'm not too displeased with where we are this season. We can take this and try for better next season

Quoted from Hagrid

Whos kidding anyone? But lets not pretend you’ll be loving this. Its what we are mid table, sometimes good sometimes excrement. It happens. I’ll take this after what we had last year

I won't take non entertainment though. We are very boring to watch.

I've followed Town for more than 50 years and I can't believe how bloody poor we are right now. Expectation levels have really dropped at this club

Quoted from Hagrid

Whos kidding anyone? But lets not pretend you’ll be loving this. Its what we are mid table, sometimes good sometimes excrement. It happens. I’ll take this after what we had last year

Mid table? We played like relegation candidates today

Quoted from Ipswin

It's about where I expected us to be too. A mid-table side with an average team. Plenty of folk on here were kidding themselves and getting all excited about the play offs though (dreamers)

The difference is though, we are fans, we have dreams and there's nothing with that is there?

At the beginning of the season I said I would be happy with mid table this season as I believe that Jolley is building something but it didn't stop me dreaming of a play off place. Still am too, until it's mathematically impossible.

Quoted from carrot top

I won't take non entertainment though. We are very boring to watch.

I've followed Town for more than 50 years and I can't believe how bloody poor we are right now. Expectation levels have really dropped at this club

Weve had a couple of crap games yeh but cmon weve played some really good football at times this season. Lots of passing and plenty of fight. Couple of our goals have done the rounds online because of how nice they were. Feel like youre being a bit over the top

We are what we are. The manager has improved us but admits we’re inconsistent- and what’s wrong with dreaming? If you can’t dream after 4 wins on the bounce then it’s a pretty sad world.

Quoted from ivanosandwich

The difference is though, we are fans, we have dreams and there's nothing with that is there?

At the beginning of the season I said I would be happy with mid table this season as I believe that Jolley is building something but it didn't stop me dreaming of a play off place. Still am too, until it's mathematically impossible.

As they say Ivano.... it's not over until the fat lady sings so I'll keep dreaming until the reality says otherwise

Great start then played like a team who don't have enough belief or drive, too many times 2nd to the ball, too many times just lumping it up for them to win the headers, beaten by a team twice now in as many weeks by teams that were below us, simply not good enough, we should be fighting for the play offs not mooching towards the summer holidays were it seems some players heads are.

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

Weve had a couple of crap games yeh but cmon weve played some really good football at times this season. Lots of passing and plenty of fight. Couple of our goals have done the rounds online because of how nice they were. Feel like youre being a bit over the top

I think we have had more than a couple of crap games. Its just not entertaining. Tranmere and Notts County games apart when did we last put a team to the sword at home with real pressure and up tempo play. All about opinions yes, but I don't think I'm being over the top

We need at least 8 new players next season , this lot are so inconsistant . We are alwase a work in process waiting for next season that never comes

Flack Collins off to coach the kids how to run backwards. The best example I saw was we lost the ball on an attack just inside their half and Collins was stood 5 yards into our own area when we lost it, simple flat pass to their player middle of our half and luckily Davies managed a last ditch tackle edge of the box having run 20 yards across the pitch.  >:( I know Collins is experienced but he is past it, Get RHJ in. Davies is not the answer as the centre back who joins the attack as has neither the skill nor pace to be effective.

Quoted from FishOutOfWater

As they say Ivano.... it's not over until the fat lady sings so I'll keep dreaming until the reality says otherwise

Exactly FOOW, I'm with you.

Jolleys lost the plot surely. "We ended the first half well and the second half was end to end. Our defence wasn't sat too deep." I know he likes to protect his players in his interviews but he doesn't often blatantly lie like that. He has pointed out how awful the ref was at least. I'm guess both him and the Crawley manager must of agreed to make a complaint as I can't see him making a statement like that in fear of punishment from the FA

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

Weve had a couple of crap games yeh but cmon weve played some really good football at times this season. Lots of passing and plenty of fight. Couple of our goals have done the rounds online because of how nice they were. Feel like youre being a bit over the top

I don't really see the view that you obviously get. Most of our games if we are honest have been crap, including some of those that we have won. I think we are comparing our performances with the shite dished up under Slade. Something is wrong some where,whether it is being able to follow instructions or if there are any

Looking back it's clear Macca made some great saves that masked how bad we were in defence. Glad we sit safe in mid table be interesting to see how many times this season we have lost out big time on possession. By my reckoning it will be nearly every game this is a major flaw and not good viewing.

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Looking back it's clear Macca made some great saves that masked how bad we were in defence. Glad we sit safe in mid table be interesting to see how many times this season we have lost out big time on possession. By my reckoning it will be nearly every game this is a major flaw and not good viewing.

We were saying on coming out of the ground it's a bloody good job we have 47 points more games like the last two would have had us looking at the bottom  2